Kamal Ghorui
‘Project Hail Mary’ producer Aditya Sood has revealed how the massive success of ‘Dhurandhar: The Revenge’ led to a strategic shift in the Hollywood film’s India release and why, looking back, it may have been the smartest move the team made. Let’s take a look at what he has to say.
‘Project Hail Mary’ producer on shifting the release date in India
While ‘Project Hail Mary’ opened globally on March 19, its India release was pushed back as theaters prioritized Ranveer Singh’s ‘Dhurandhar: The Revenge’, directed by Aditya Dhar, which had generated immense anticipation. The Hollywood movie, starring Ryan Gosling, eventually opened in India on March 26. The Dhurandhar sequel’s dominant presence also led to schedule shifts for several other films, including Yash’s ‘Toxic’.Speaking about the decision, Aditya Sood told the Hindustan Times, “We have an amazing team here in India who knows the local market. That’s why you’re not making the decisions in Los Angeles. Obviously, we knew what a big deal ‘Dhurandhar 2’ was going to be.”
Producer shares how the delay worked in the film’s favor
Rather than hurting the film, Aditya Sood believes the extra week may have actually worked in its favor. With global audiences already talking about the film online, curiosity among Indian viewers only grew. “I don’t think it’s the worst thing in the world when you see the enthusiasm that the rest of the world has,” he said.Sood also drew a thoughtful parallel between the global response and the film’s central theme. He expressed, “It’s funny because it reflects what’s in the story: the whole world is experiencing it; it’s a moment where all of us can do something together. And I think that’s really powerful.”
More about ‘Project Hail Mary’
‘Project Hail Mary’ initially secured very limited IMAX screens in India, as exhibitors continued to prioritize ‘Dhurandhar 2’s record-breaking run. However, a wave of fan-driven demand online led to a sharp increase in IMAX showings, with tickets selling out quickly once more screens were listed.As per the reports, internationally, the film earned close to USD 500 million within three weeks of release. In India, it collected around Rs 50 crore in two weeks, a strong figure for a non-franchise Hollywood film.
More about ‘Dhurandhar: The Revenge’
Aditya Dhar’s spy thriller ‘Dhurandhar: The Revenge’ became the first Hindi film to cross the Rs 1,000 crore mark in India, making it clear why it commanded such a dominant release window. The film is inching towards Rs 1700 crore global box office collection.
